Grandmother cut estranged husband with knife

A GRANDMOTHER who lunged at her estranged husband with a knife before attacking his partner has been spared jail.

Carol Powell burst into Stuart Powell’s home and demanded to know where his girlfriend was, warning she’d “have her” while brandishing the blade.

Mr Powell required hospital treatment after suffering a cut to the finger as he tried to grab the knife away from the 54-year-old, with whom he’d separated six months earlier.

As Powell was led out of the property, she lashed out at her husband’s new partner, Julie Sjoland, kicking her in the leg several times.

Powell, of Dunlop Crescent, South Shields, admitted one charge of assault causing actual bodily harm (to her husband) and one count of assault by beating on his partner.

District Judge Helen Cousins gave Powell a 20-week jail term, suspended for two years, for the assault on her husband, and a 10-week sentence, also suspended for two years, for the assault on his partner, which will run concurrently.

She was also given a two-year community order with supervision and must keep to a curfew from 9pm to 7am for 10 weeks, and received an indefinite restraining order, barring contact with both victims.

She was also ordered to pay court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £80.

Jeanette Smith, prosecuting, said at 8.50pm on Wednesday, December 17, Stuart Powell was at his Masefield Drive home, in South Shields, with his partner.

“Powell walked in to the address through the front door and asked Mr Powell where his partner was, and said ‘I will have her’.

“She had a knife in her hand and lunged towards him. He grabbed her wrists to prevent injury.”

The defendant continued to swing the knife towards Mr Powell, cutting his finger, before kicking out at his partner as she was removed from the property.

Police were called and Powell was arrested.

Kevin Smallcombe, defending, said police had been called over incidents of domestic abuse during the relationship in the past.

Mr Smallcombe said: “There is nothing to suggest she is a risk to the wider community.

“Her husband has stopped making payments on the mortgage. She now faces eviction.

“He has put the house on the market without her knowledge.

“She has been suffering from depression.”

Judge Cousins said Powell could have been jailed if a different charge had been put before the court by the Crown Prosecution Service.